Electric-cable tap



H. M. LAMB.

' ELECTRIC CABLE TAP. APPL'ICATION FILED AUG-9, I920.

May 17,1921. "Ens SHEET 1.

Patented H. M. LAMB. ELECTRIC CABLE TAP. APPLICATION FILED AUG.9| I920.

Patented, Mayra-192,1.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- I I I I I I l I i I l I I I 1r '1! 44 ,11! r rr r r r r r r 1/ v v vv v r/l I I I I I I l I 1 1 z/ r/ a 1 1 1 1/ 1 I/ 1 1 I z ATTORNEY W ITNESS:

.provement. Fig. 3 is an approximately central longi- UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE;

HOMER M. LAMB, OF WEST FRANKFORT, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- THIRD T0 LOUIS KLEIN AND ONE-THIRD TO GEORGE B. GREENBAUM, BOTH OF FRANK- f roar, ILLINOIS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HOMER M. LAMB, a citizen of the United States, residing at 1West Frankfort, in the county of Franklin and State of Illinois, havev invented new and useful Improvements in Electric-Cable -Taps, of tion. I

which'the following is a specifica- My present invention has reference to that class of electric cable tapping devices commonly known as hot hooks.

The improvement is especially designe for use in connection with gathering motors in mines where reels are used, and. has for its final primary object to produce a hot hook which is effectively insulated for protecting the operator, as well as yieldable to relieve the cable from sudden tensions which would otherwise inflict injuryto or perhaps 7 vents blowouts.

The foregoing, and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by the'construction, combination and operative arrangement of parts such as is disclosed by the drawings. 1

In the drawings I Figure 1 isa view illustrating the application of the improvement.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the imtudinal central view therethrough.

Fig.4 is a sectional view approximately on the line 4.4 of Fig. 3. v I

Fig. 5' is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 3. i

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the gripping jaws.

Fig. 7 is a similar view of the hook.

As disclosed in Fig. 1 of the drawings the hook 1 is arranged over the trolley wire 2. The hook is connected to the cable of a gathering motor or tovarious other cable connections where reels are employed. Gonsequently the hook is subject to movement by the cable as the same winds or unwinds. This causes an arc in the connection which soon burns the hook or otherwise weakens the same so that it is easily broken. With the system now in general use a copper wire of a suitable length has both of its ends bent, so that one end hooks over the trolley Specification of Letters Patent.

ELECTRIC-CABLE LAP.

able time, does not insure proper protection .forthe operator, is not yieldable with the strain of the cable and causes a material waste of copperinasmuchas the hook thereof soon burns away.

Patented May 17, 1921. Application filed August 9, 1920. SerialINo. 402,418

With my improvement the hook 1 is" formed of a comparatively short length of copper wire and is replaceable on the remainder of the structure when unusable. Thus'the hook maybe considered an inexpensive element of the improvement.

The improvement includes a cylindrical outer casing 3 of insulating material which receives therein a tube 4 of copper or other electric conducting material. Both the tube and casing have openends, and the ends of the tube are threaded. Screwed in the outer open end of the tube 4 is a plug 5 which is of insulating material. Passing centrally through the plug 5 and entering the tube 4 is a rod 6 to the outerv end of which the cable is secured. The'rod'6 has on its inner end a plunger head 7, and surrounding the rod and exerting a tension between the head 7 and the plug 4:, is ahelical spring 8. The spring normally forces the rod andhead toward one end of'the tube. i

The plunger-head 7 has a lateral slot or opening therethrough in which are-received brush members 9that areforced away from each otherand into contacting engagement I.

with the tube .lby a spring 10.

Screwed in'theoute'r end of the tube 1- is 'a "plug 11. {This plug is formed with a 'milled head 12 that rests on the end of the tube 4 andcasing3, The plug has an ex- .tended threaded portion13 on the outer face of the head 12. This extension is provided with opposed pockets 14 that communicate with the bore of the plug. In each of the pockets there is seated a jaw member 15. Each jaw has on its inner edge spaced lugs 16. The inner edges of the jaws are arranged at an angle with respect to the outer ends thereof, and the said jaws at their outer and reduced edges have each a depression or slot 17 therein. In these slots there is received a split spring ring member 18 which exerts a tension against the jaws sufiicient'to swing the lower portions thereof provided with the lugs 16 outward of the plug, and out of engagement with notches 19 provided in the straight end or shank of the hook 1.

On the threadedextension 13 of the plug 11 there isscrewed a sleeve 20. This sleeve contacts with the outer edges of the jaweto force the same inwardly and to bring the lugs thereof into the slots in the hook, and thus effectively lock the hook to the device.

With a construction as above'described it that the foregoing description when taken in connection with the drawings will fully set forth the" construction and advantages of the improvement.

What I claim as new is 2- 1; In a: device for-the purpose set forth, an insulated tube, a hook removably secured to one endthereof, and a spring influenced rod movable through the opposite end thereof;

2. In a device for the purpose set forth, a tube having an insulated-outer face, a hook V removably'seoured to oneend of the tube, a

spring influenced 7 rod movable through the opposite end of the tube, ar plilnger head "on the innerendof the rod.

3. In a device for the'purpose set forth, a casing of insulatingmaterial, a tube therein,a hook removably'secured-at one endof the tube, a spring influenced rod in the rod and movable to the other end' thereof, and spring influenced brushescarried by the rod and contacting with the tube. 45'

4. In adevice for the purpose SBtffOI'iZhyiL conductor tube, an insulated casing: there- .for, a hook ofconductivematerialat'one end of the-tube, a rod of conductive'material in the tube and movable throu'gh' 'the other end thereof, a head-on the rod, spring 7 means influencing the latter in one direction,

and spring influenced brushes carried by the head and contacting with the tube.

5. In a device for thepurpose set forth, a conductor tube, an insulating casing therefor, plugs closing the ends of the tube, a hook of conducting material'received in one of the plugs, means for removably sustaining the hook thereon, a conductor.- rod movable through the tube, a head thereon, spring influenced brushes carried thereby, contacting with the tube, and spring means influencing the head androd in one direction.

6. In a device for the purpose set forth, a tube of electric conducting material, a

casing of insulated material surrounding the tube, plugs at both ends'of the tube,

spring infiuenced'jaws carriedby oneof the plugs, a hook arranged" between 'the jaws, means on the'plug engaging the jaws for holding the latter in hooked engaging position, a rod of electric conducting material in the tube andslidable through the second plug, a plunger head thereon, spring influenced: brushes carried thereby and contactingthe tube, and springmeansbetween the plunger head and the last mentioned K I plug. for influencing the rod inwardly of the tube;

7-; In a' device for'thepur'pose set forth, a tube "of electric Y conducting :material, an insulator casing surrounding; the same, plugs at both ends of the tube, jaws carried by one'of'the plugs, lugs onthe inner edges thereof ahook having a notchedshank designed tobe engaged by the lugs of the jaws, spring means for normally retainingif the jaws" out; of hook engaging position,

means, removable on the plug'andengaging with the jaws for moving thelattenthrough hook engaging'po'si'tion; awrod of electric conducting material in the tube-and movable:

i through the; second plug, a plunger head on the inner end of the rod, spring influenced brushes carried thereby and contaotingwith the tube,*and spring means betweenthelast mentioned plug andthe" plunger head for influencing the rod-in 'a direction inwardly "*ofthe'tube; a

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HOMERMLAMB, 

